Create a drawing

You can easily create, share, and edit drawings online by creating a drawing using Google Drawings. Whether you are trying to make a diagram or chart, or to paint an image, you can use the editing options in Google Drawings to create the drawing you want.

Different menu options for Google Drawings

Edit

Click this drop-down menu to cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and change a shape.

Insert

Use this menu to insert lines, arrows, scribbles, polylines, text boxes, and images. You can also click the individual buttons in the toolbar to do this. Once you select an option, follow these instructions:

In line, arrow, and scribble modes, you'll keep adding lines until you go back to select mode by clicking the Select button from the toolbar (the small arrow to the left of the Shapes button), or pressing the Esc key.

Line: Click to place one end of the line, and drag to the other end.

Arrow: Click anywhere to place the end of the arrow, and drag to add the arrowhead.

Scribble: Click to choose your start point, and drag to create the scribble. It will be automatically smoothed out once you've finished.

Polyline: Add continuous lines composed of multiple segments by drawing a segment of your polyline, clicking to end the segment and beginning your next segment. Learn more about using polylines.

Text box: Click where you'd like to add the text box, enter your text, and press Enter. Your text will be added to your drawing. Use text boxes instead of word art if you'd like to use word wrap or specify a different text size. Learn more about using text in Google drawings.

Image: Enter a URL of an image or do an image search to find what you're looking for, and click Select. Learn more about adding images to your drawing.

Format

Click this menu to change the background of your drawing, align and rotate items, change the order of the items (for example, bring a shape forward), and group items. Learn more about formatting your drawings.

Here are some of the buttons available in the toolbar:

Undo or redo changes

You can undo and redo changes by clicking the two arrows to the left side end of the toolbar.

Zoom in and out

To zoom in and out on your drawings, click the Zoom button in the toolbar.

Shapes

Select a shape from the Shape menu in the toolbar. Then, click anywhere in Google drawings to insert the shape in the default size, or drag your mouse to change the size of the shape.

Fill color, line color, line width, edit text, bold, and more

These and other editing options are available only when you've selected a specific item. For example, when you insert a text box or word art, you'll see the Edit text button at the right end of the toolbar. Click it to change the selected text.

To duplicate a shape, just hold the Ctrl key (Command key for Macs) while dragging the shape.

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